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Neighbours fuming over chaos at Costco gas bar

When Costco originally proposed adding a gas bar to its Scarborough location, residents predicted chaos. They were right. Now the gas bar might expand

The lineups for gas at the Costco gas bar near Warden and Ellesmere Aves., shown here on May 30, 2011, are so long that the company has its own traffic directors and brings in paid-duty police. (DONOVAN VINCENT / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

By Donovan VincentStaff Reporter

Thu., June 2, 2011

When Costco originally proposed adding a gas bar to its Warden and Ellesmere Ave. in Scarborough, residents predicted chaos — traffic gridlock, idling cars and drivers treating local roads like the Wild West in their quest for cheap gas.

They were right.

Since opening this fall, the gas bar near Warden and Ellesmere Aves. has seen a daily wall of cars, with drivers flocking from as far away as Whitby for discounts of up to 10 cents a litre.

The markdowns are only offered to the warehouse chain’s paying members. Even so, the lineup of cars entering the gas bar off Canadian Rd. are so long that paid-duty police and Costco staff in orange vests help direct traffic to the pumps. Customers are making U-turns wherever they can and often ignoring traffic signals on Warden, just west of the store.

Costco knows the situation isn’t ideal. Its proposed solution? Add four more pumps to the congested gas bar’s current 12 to take off some of the pressure.

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The plan is fuelling further outrage.

“If you build it, they will come,” says George Athanasoulis, 39, an IT consultant who lives just south of the store’s property.

“This wouldn’t happen in Forest Hill, Leaside or Rosedale. It’s because this is a working class and middle class area,” he added.

Costco argues the additional pumps will help alleviate the traffic tie-ups. It’s unclear exactly when the company hopes to build the new pumps; the company did not respond to a request for comment.

Costco’s application for more pumps and parking spots is set to be heard at next Tuesday’s committee of adjustment meeting in Scarborough.

Athanasoulis and other residents plan to be on hand in hopes of getting the application turned down.

But if the fight against the first 12 pumps is any indication, the residents’ prospects are grim. When Costco announced its expansion plan, local councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37, Scarborough Centre) could not find a single independent Toronto planner willing to offer an expert opinion to the Ontario Municipal Board that the pumps would be a problem.

Costco opened a huge shopping warehouse on the site in the early 1990s and years later approached Thompson about adding a gas bar.

“I told them I didn’t think it was a good idea,” Thompson said in an interview. “I didn’t think there was sufficient space there, and I felt it would have a negative impact on the community with too many people wanting to buy gas causing congestion.”

Thompson went so far as to send a staff member to Barrie to take pictures of the congestion at a Costco there. But a committee of adjustment and city of Toronto staff, including planners, sided with Costco. The prevailing view was there was enough space for the gas bar at the Scarborough site.

In September 2009, Thompson got the okay from city council to challenge that view at the OMB. But he had to withdraw his appeal after city lawyers advised him no independent planners were willing to take on the fight.

Thompson said Costco has since “come to realize there is a problem there.”

Residents say the congestion makes them feel like they’re trapped in the neighbourhood — not to mention their environmental concerns about all the cars idling.

“We’re fed up,” said longtime resident Doreen White.

“The whole thing is a major inconvenience to the whole area. Hundreds of cars are sitting with their motors running the whole time.”

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